process
People-Driven Design:
The redevelopment team believes that achieving truly equitable, dynamic spaces relies on a people-driven, participatory design process – after all, the greatest experts on how Faneuil Gardens residents live and use the site are the residents themselves. Responsible design ensures that residents have a seat at the table, and that their input carries real weight. The collaborative, co-creative process at Faneuil Gardens directly incorporates residents’ feedback and priorities into the design of the entire site.
Learn
To begin the masterplanning process, the development team studied the buildings, site, and neighborhood. Equally importantly, we also learned from residents to better understand their priorities and visions for their community. This included community-wide events, focus groups interviews, workshops, and surveys.
design principles
Based on what we learned, our team worked collaboratively with residents to establish several design principles that have guided our planning. We seek to create a design that is connected, engaging, inclusive, and resilient. The design should also promote connectivity with several key assets in the area: McKinney Park, the Charles River, Boston Landing, and the Market Street commercial area.
prototype
Using these design principles as a framework, our team created several different design prototypes for the site. Through workshops with residents, we explored the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Through input from residents, the development team recognized the importance of designing for the specific needs of different resident populations. Additionally, spaces that support social life – including a central community center – are key.
optimize
The team refined these initial designs in a variety of ways, including analyzing the exposure to natural light in outdoor and indoor spaces, amount of open space, potential to preserve mature trees, and neighborhood connectivity.
concept
The new masterplan merges together design principles, community feedback on prototypes, and optimization analysis.
